Andrew, the fisherman first-called by Jesus to be among the 12 Apostles. He eventually dies a cruel death and on an X shaped cross. View the image with this post closely. Andrew’s adherence to Jesus is noteworthy. He really should have the title of “the Apostle of the Kerygma” because of preaching the Good News. Do we adhere, or do we even aspire to adhere as St Andrew, to the Lord?
On another note, today in the pouring rain I had the privilege of joining friends to celebrate the 125 years of New Haven’s Saint Andrew Society at Woodwinds in North Branford. Nearly 350 people at dinner. Originally a mutual benefit society for the Italian immigrants to New Haven, today the Saint Andrew Society is more a social group which sponsors a festival, some social projects and keeping friendship important.
The first founders and their families of the Saint Andrew Society came from Amalfi which has a significant import for those who belong to the Order of Malta: Blessed Gerard Sasso was born in the Amalfi area and a Benedictine monk there before moving to Jerusalem. The cross on our habit bears what is called the Maltese Cross on the breast, and the cross is used in abundance in Amalfi on churches, sidewalks, tee-shirts, etc.
The eight-pointed cross reminds us of the Eight Beatitudes as taught by the Lord and recorded in Matthew 5:7. The Paschal Mystery and the Beatitudes are intimates in that they deepen our way of living the Christian life: Lex orandi, lex orandi, lex agendi.